Buha's Block with Jovan Buha

Jovan Buha analyzes five post-All-Star break questions for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Jovan examines how Luka Doncic can elevate the Lakers’ offense to contender level, LA’s apparent small-ball destiny, the optimal balance with the rotation and lineups, if the Lakers will add another free agent or buyout player (or convert a two-way player), LA’s postseason ceiling, and more.

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Chapters:

0:00 Intro

0:51 Shout-out to the Late Night Gang!

2:13 Question No. 1: How much will Luka elevate LA’s offense?

13:43 Question No. 2: Is LA destined to play small-ball in big spots?

23:07 Question No. 3: What’s the optimal balance with stars, starters + rotation?

28:41 Question No. 4: Does LA add another player?

34:57 Question No. 5: What is this group’s ceiling?

38:10 Outro

Jovan Buha reacts to the Los Angeles Lakers' 131-119 loss to the Utah Jazz on Wednesday, February 12, 2025.

Jovan analyzes the Lakers at the All-Star break, Luka Doncic's second game, Alex Len's debut, the importance of the Lakers' top eight players being healthy, and more.

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Chapters:

0:00 Intro

2:29 Overarching takeaway: LA has won 12 of 15 entering the ASB

8:53 Stat of the night: LA goes 17-for-30 from the FT line (56.7%)

11:24 Takeaway No. 1: Luka's stellar passing and the offense adjusting

19:16 Takeaway No. 2: Alex Len's debut

28:38 Takeaway No. 3: There is still a lot to be bullish about with LA

33:47 Q&A

1:35:22 Outro

Jovan Buha reacts to the Los Angeles Lakers signing Alex Len and waiving Christian Wood on Tuesday, February 11, 2025.

Jovan analyzes the Len additions, his strengths and weaknesses, what's next for the Lakers with one more potential move, and more.

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Chapters:

0:00 Intro

1:02 What this means for the Lakers

4:23 Len's strengths

6:51 Len's weaknesses

13:13 What, if anything, is next for LA?

15:50 Q&A

1:18:11 Outro

Jovan Buha reacts to the Los Angeles Lakers' 132-113 win over the Utah Jazz on Monday, February 10, 2025.

Jovan analyzes Luka Doncic's debut, the Lakers' new starting lineup and rotation, LA leaning fully into its small-ball identity, Austin Reaves' new (old) role, the Lakers' sixth straight win, Alex Len, and more.

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Chapters:

0:00 Intro

2:22 Overarching takeaway: LA keeps it rolling while incorporating Luka

5:35 Stat of the night: Luka's turnover and Austin's nine rebounds

10:16 Takeaway No. 1: Luka Doncic's debut is a success

22:30 Takeaway No. 2: The new starting lineup and rotation

30:38 Takeaway No. 3: LA fully leans into small-ball identity

35:52 Q&A

1:40:26 Outro

Jovan Buha breaks down the biggest storylines for the Los Angeles Lakers at the 50-game mark of the season.

Jovan analyzes the craziest stretches in Lakers history, LA trading for Luka Doncic, the fallout from the Mark Williams rescinded trade, LeBron James setting the tone, Jarred Vanderbilt’s return, the center rotation, center options in free agency, JJ Redick’s growth, and more.

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Chapters:

0:00 Intro

1:27 Storyline No. 1: Is this the craziest stretch in Lakers history?

12:27 Storyline No. 2: LA trades for Luka Doncic

20:32 Storyline No. 3: The fallout from the nixed Mark Williams deal

26:18 Storyline No. 4: LA is playing its best basketball of the season

30:47 Storyline No. 5: LeBron James sets the tone

34:09 Storyline No. 6: The return of Jarred Vanderbilt

40:12 Storyline No. 7: The current center rotation

48:04 Storyline No. 8: The 15th roster spot

54:04 Storyline No. 9: JJ Redick coming into his own as a coach

58:56 Storyline No. 10: The road ahead (remaining strength of schedule)

1:02:03 Outro

Jovan Buha reacts to the Los Angeles Lakers' trade for Mark Williams being rescinded due to Williams failing his physical with the team. He also reacts to the Lakers' 124-117 win over the Indiana Pacers on February 8, 2025.

Jovan analyzes the impact of not adding Williams, the underwhelming center buyout and free-agent market, the awkwardness of bringing back Dalton Knecht, the Lakers winning 11 of 13 games, Austin Reaves' career-high 45 points with LeBron James and Luka Doncic out, Jordan Goodwin's Lakers debut, and more.

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Chapters:

0:00 Intro

3:29 Analyzing the impact of the nixed Williams trade

10:29 Why I think this lowers LA's ceiling this season

13:46 The fallout of all of this for Dalton Knecht

15:31 The center buyout/free-agent market is underwhelming

19:21 Overaching takeaway from Lakers-Pacers: Another impressive win as LA ascends to No. 4 in the West

20:52 Stat of the night: 45-7-7 from Austin Reaves

21:19 Takeaway No. 1: Reaves continues to show his importance

23:16 Takeaway No. 2: Jordan Goodwin impresses in debut

26:30 Q&A

2:01:02 Outro

Jovan Buha welcomes Tim (aka Cranjis McBasketball) to recap the Los Angeles Lakers' 2025 trade deadline and look ahead to the rest of the season.

Jovan and Tim discuss how Luka Doncic and Mark Williams fit with the Lakers, Williams' defensive limitations, grading the trade deadline, who should be the fifth starter, Austin Reaves, the empty roster spot, LA's ceiling and spot in the West pecking order, and more.

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Chapters:

0:00 Intro

1:03 Cranjis’ reaction to the Luka Doncic trade

3:28 How Luka fits and improves the offense

9:40 Assessing the Mark Williams trade

16:07 Mark Williams’ defense

23:56 How Luka and MW change the offense

31:12 Luka off the ball

32:45 Grading the trade deadline

34:33 Who should be the fifth starter?

40:57 How does Austin fit alongside Luka and LeBron?

47:58 What should LA look for with its open empty roster spot?

55:01 What is LA’s ceiling? And where are they in West pecking order?

1:03:23 Outro

Jovan Buha reacts to the Los Angeles Lakers' 120-112 over the Golden State Warriors on February 6, 2025.

Jovan analyzes the new Mark Williams we learned ahead of the game, LeBron James joining the 40-40 Club, the Lakers' blueprint with this new group, one potential concern defensively, Jarred Vanderbilt, Luka Doncic, and more.

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Chapters:

0:00 Intro

3:55 Overarching takeaway: LA is playing its best basketball of the season

6:09 Stat of the night: Jarred Vanderbilt's 14 rebounds in 21 minutes

9:21 Takeaway No. 1: Mark Williams trade context

18:02 Takeaway No. 2: The blueprint forward (and how Luka and MW fit in)

25:31 Takeaway No. 3: Perimeter speed defensively is still a concern

30:45 Q&A

1:31:34 Outro

Jovan Buha reacts and recaps the Los Angeles Lakers' 2025 trade deadline on February 6, 2025.

He analyzes the Lakers' moves over the past month-plus, why this is an A+ trade cycle for LA, the current starting lineup and rotation, and Mark Williams before answering viewer/listener questions.

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Chapters:

0:00 Intro

0:16 Trade deadline recap

1:39 Projected starting lineup and rotation

4:38 Grading the Mark Williams trade (again)

8:03 Q&A

1:36:37 Outro

Jovan Buha reacts to the Los Angeles trading for center Mark Williams late on Wednesday, February 5, 2025.

Jovan analyzes the deal, Williams' fit on both sides of the ball, Luka Doncic coveting a Williams type, the projected starters/rotation, what's next for LA, their new ceiling, giving up on Dalton Knecht, the current center market, and more.

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Chapters:

0:00 Intro

1:56 The Lakers get the type of C they wanted (and Luka wanted)

6:11 Mark Williams scouting report

14:19 LA's new projected starters/rotation

17:45 Assessing the current center market

20:58 The Lakers go all-in on Luka Doncic & LeBron James

27:09 What's next for LA ahead of the deadline?

31:24 How good are the Lakers? What's their ceiling?

36:02 Q&A

2:08:18 Outro